Tube for venting tires



Oct. 15, 1935. H. A. BRITTAIN 2,017,532

TUBE FOR VENTING TIRES I Filed Oct; 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuvntozHarold A BrHTa/n Oct. 15, 1935.

H. A. BRITTAIN TUBE FOR VENTING TIRES Filed Oct. 29, 193]. 2Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwnkoi Harold A Briifain Patented Get. 15, 1935 TUBE FORVENTING" TIRES Application October 29, 1931, Serial No. 571,719 13 Cl.(Cl. 152-13) This invention relates to the venting of a unit rim,including the customary opening to receive comprised of a tire, tube andrim, and more par= the valve stem, and thence to the atmosphere.ticularly to the construction of a tube for vent- In this manner, thefluids, or at least the greater ing the unit whereby air or other fluidscontained portion of them, will be permitted to escape in the unit canbe vented therefrom under cerfrom the unit before they enter thecarcass. I tain conditions. do not claim the rim per se provided withvent Hcretofore, it has been customary in building openings as a featureof my invention, but do pneumatic tires to provide a tire, which, whenclaim its use in combination with my novel tube mounted on a rim andinflated, is practically imas a feature of the invention.

pervious to gases and which will not permit the Accordingly, an objectof my invention is to no escape of any fluid contained therein.Likewise, provide novel means for venting a unit comprised it has beencustomary to provide an impervious of a tire, tube and a rim. rim forthis impervious tire. The inflation of the A further object is toprovides novel tube for tire on the rim is usually accomplished by meansa pneumatic tire which is provided on its outer 35 of a separateinflatable inner tube disposed there surface with corrugations or ventpassages.

in or by means of an inner tube permanently se- Other objects andadvantages will become apcured or formed integrally with the inner wallparent from the following description. of the tire in a structure knownas a single tube In the drawings. I have shown two emboditire". I mentsof the invention. In this showing,

In using this impervious tire and rim on a ve- Fig. l is a cross-sectionof a unit comprised of 0 hicle numerous obstacles have been encountered.a tire, tube and rim provided with means for For example, there is anatural seepage of the venting the unit in accordance with thisinveninflating fluidthrough the inner tube, which fluid, tion; V unlessotherwise directed, will permeate the car- Fig. 2 is a. perspective viewof a portion of the g5 cass of the tire and the latter being impervioustube illustrated .in Fig. 1; and does n P rmi the escape of this fluid.The im- Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a. por- DeWiOuS rim 8150Prevents ap of this flu d a tion of a tube each showing a modified formas a consequnce, the fluid permeates the cords thereof. of the carcassand tends to flow along and Referring to the drawings, the numeral H]inso through ese cords, but as the fluid cannot dicates a tire as awhole, of conventional con- 3 escape through the relatively ck ubsidestruction, comprising an outer layer of rubber walls or treadportion of the tire, it forms blisters compound II forming the tread andsidewalls of in the rubber of the sidewall and tread and frethe tire,and a. plurality of layers of plies I2 01;. q y 08 5 blowouts at thesepoints. Likerubberized cord fabric or other suitable fibrous as wise,tubes occasionally have small holes such as material. These plies, attheir margins, enclose a pin holes therein, through which the fluid maybead rings 13 which preferably are composed of pass into the carcass andsimilar troubles occur. a plurality of relatively small wires that areat Ihave discovered that, if some means is proleast partially embeddedin rubber compound. vided to permit the escape to the atmosphere of Itwill be understood that the tire also may be so fluids which have seepedor leaked through the provided'with a breaker strip, chafing strips and40 tube before they enter the carcass, many, if not any other portionsneeded to complete the strucall, of the troubles incident to the actionof such ture, but these need not be referred to in order fluids will beovercome. In the copending applito understand the invention. cation ofR. B. Day, Serial No. 561,122, filed Sep- The tire I 0 is provided withan inflated inner g5 tember 4, 1931, this fluid is permitted to escapetube M which may be separable therefrom or to the atmosphere by ventingthe tire, and in which may be formed as an integral part thereof. thecopending application of B. Darrow, Serial A conventional valve I5 iscarried by the inner No. 571,728, flied October 29, 1931, this fluid istube to permit inflation and deflation of the permitted to escape fromthe tire or from the latter. 1 r, I

unit before entering the tire bymeans of vent The tire and tube aremounted on any suitable 5o passages in the rim. I propose to vent theunit rim such as a drop centerrim indicated as a by usingan inner tubeprovided on its outersurwhole by the numeral 16. This rim comprises anface with one or more vent passages, which pasannular well or channelportion I! provided in sages will conduct fluids which seep or leak itsbottom with the usual opening for receiving 2 through the tube, tosuitable openings in the the valve l5, annular bead receiving shoulderssible arrangement of 2 L H3 at the sides thereof, the shoulders l8 beingformed with annular tire retaining flanges 20.

The elements described, when of conventional construction and whenassembled for use on a vehicle, do not ordinarily permit the escape offluid which seeps or leaks through the inner tube, because the tire isimpervious due to the relatively thick rubber sidewalls andtread-portion, the rim is impervious, except at its opening adjacent thevalve stem, which opening however, ordinarily is ineffective to vent theescaping fluid unless the latter is directed to the opening,

and a fluid tight connectionis formed between the rim and the tire whenthe latter is inflated. In order to prevent blister formation in thetire and blowouts caused by leakage and seepage of fluids into thecarcass, I provide one or more vent passages on the outer andpreferably, but not necessarily, provide the rim with vent openings inaddition to the customary valve stem opening, communicating with thetube passages whereby the fluids will escape .to the atmosphere beforethey enter the carcass.

For example, in Figs. 1 and 2, I have provided a corrugated or ridgedtube having one or more transverse peripheral ridges 24 on itsoutersurface and one circumferential peripheral ridge 25 joining with theridges 24. Also, the rim It is the invention, fluid escaping'from thetube will pass along said passageways and through the openings 23'and/orthe the atmosphere without entering the tire. While I prefer to providethe tube with both transverse peripheral and circumferential peripheralpassages, it will be apparent that any suitable passage may be providedon the tube which will convey'fluids to the openings in the rim.Furthermore,-the openings in the rim need not be limited to the showingin the drawings but may be provided at any suitable point in the rim topermit communication with the grooves on the tube.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a tube having one or more transverse peripheralvent grooves or passages 26 on its outer surface and one or morecircumferential peripheral grooves or passages 21 communicating with thegrooves 26. In this form of the invention, fluid escaping from the tubewill pass along the grooves 26 and 21 and through the openings 23 and/orthe valve stem opening to the atmosphere without entering the tire.

In Fig. 4 I have shown one or more transverse peripheral knurled orroughened portions 28 and one or more similar portions 29 arrangedcircumferentially of the periphery of the tube Hf, whereby to provide aplurality of continuous ridges and grooves and consequently passage-'ways around the tube. Either or both of these roughened portions may beused or they may be changed as stated in connection with the posveritinga unit having a tubeconstructed in accordance with the showing in Fig. 4fluid flows along the passageways provided by the series. of continuousgrooves and ridges through the openings in the rim to the atmosphere.

In using the terms transverse peripheral" and circumferentialperipheral", in order that no surface of the tube 1 valve stem openingto -whereby to provide whereby to provide a vent thepassages in Fig. 1.In

' and between ambiguities will arise as to the meaning of these terms,it is to be understood that the term transverse peripheral refers to apassage formed substantially transversely .around the tube, while theterm circumferential peripheral refers to a passage substantiallylongitudinally around the tube.

It will be apparent that I have provided novel means for venting theunit referred to herein whereby fluid escaping from the tube will not 1enter the tire, and that I have also provided a novel tube to be used inventing such a unit.

Although I have illustrated two formsof the invention and have describedthose forms in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the 1 artthat the invention is not so limited but that various modifications maybe made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention orfrom the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An inner tube for a pneumatic tire provided with one or morecontinuous transverse peripheral ridges on its outer surface whereby toprovide a vent passageway on each side of each oi said ridges.

2. An inner tube for a pneumatic tire pro vided on its outer surfacewith a continuous circumferential peripheral ridge and with one or morecontinuous transverse peripheral ridges joining with saidcircumferential ridge whereby to pro- 3 vide a vent passageway on eachside of each of said ridges. I

3. In a unit comprising an inflated tire and tube and a rim, means forventing from the unit fluids which escape from the tube, said means 3comprising one or peripheral ridges on more continuous transverse theouter surface of the tube a vent passageway on each side of of .each ofsaid ridges and one or more vent openings arranged in the rim tocommunicate with said passageways and the atmosphere.

4. In a unit comprising an inflated tire and tube and a rim, means forventing from the unit fluids which escape from the tube, said meanscomprising a continuous circumferential peripheral ridge and one or morecontinuous transverse .peripheral ridges joining 'withsaid circumfertheouter surface of the tube passageway on each ential ridge on side ofeach of said ridges openings arranged in the rim to communicate witheither or all of the passageways on the tube and the atmosphere.

5. An inner tube for tire casings adapted to fill and pneumaticallysustain a casing throughout the extent of its inner surface, upon beinginflated to a service pressure for the casing, said inner tubebeingprovided with minute surfaces at a substantial angle to the outersurface of the tube for defining air-venting passageways between thecasing and the tube in at least the immediate region of the valve stem.6. The combination with a tire casing having a strain-resisting carcassportion and a treadwear portion of an inner tube adapted to flll, en- 6.gage and pneumatically sustain said casing operatively completelythroughout its interior, the surface of contact intermediate the tubeand easing being formed with minutxeair-venting passageways to permitthe escape of air from the casing and inner tube upon initial assemblageand inflation thereof past the bead portions of the casing wherebytrapping of air between the inner tube and the casing is avoided andcomplete engagement of and one or more vent the inner" tube and thecasing for its pneumatic support is insured. I

'7. An inner tube for tire casings adapted to fill and pneumaticallysustain a-casing throughout the extent of its inner surface, upon beinginflated to a service pressure for the casing, said inner tube beingprovided with minute ridges at a substantial angle to the outer surfaceof the tube for defining air-venting passageways between the casing andthe tube in at least the immediate region of the valve stem.

8. An inner tube for tire casings adapted to fill and pneumaticallysustain a casing throughout the extent of its inner surface, upon beinginflated to a service pressure for the casing, said inner tube beingprovided with minute grooves at a substantial angle to the outer surfaceof the tube for defining air-venting passageways between the casing andthe tube'in at least the immediate region of the valve stem.

9. An inner tube for pneumatic tire casings having an air containingportion and an inflating valve stem, said air containing portion andstem being provided with minute means for permitting the escape of airtrapped between a casing in which the tube is mounted and the tube to apoint beyond the valve stem.

10. The combination with an inner tube having minute passageways forpermitting 'the escape of air entrapped between the tube and a tirecasing past the bead portions of the casing, of a valve stem air-tightlysecured to the inner tube and having means for permitting the escape ofair through a rim opening through which the valve stem is adapted toextend. i

11. The combination with an inner tube having minute passageways forpermitting the escape of air trapped between the tube and a tire casingpast the bead portions of the casing, of a valve stem air-tightlysecured to the inner tube and having means communicating with saidpassageways for permitting the escape of air through v a rim openingthrough which the valve stem is adapted to extend.

12. An inner tube adapted to hold air under pressure above atmosphericand adapted to be nested within a tire casing of uniform constructionand horseshoe form capable of resisting subthe tube may be ventedstantial enlargement upon inflation of the tube and having a wear ortread portion of vulcanized rubber composition, said inner tube beingsubstantially uniform in cross section throughout its annular extent inany plane containing the axis 5 such passageways being of suchproportion and arrangement as not to substantially differentiate thefunction of said inner tube in road service 16 within a casing from alike inner tube having a smooth exterior within an identical casing,whereby air trapped between the tube and casing during initial inflationof the tube may be vented from the tread region past the bead portionsof 20 the casing. v (I 13. An inner tube adapted to hold air underpressure above atmospheric and adapted to be nested within a tire casingof uniform construction and horseshoe form capable of resisting sub- 2stantial enlargement upon inflation of the tube and having a wear ortread portion of vulcanized rubber composition, said inner tube beingsubstantially uniform in cross section throughout its annular extent inany plane containing the 30 axis of revolution of the tube, crosssections of the tube in planes at right angles to the axis of revolutionof the tube being of circular shape, and the exterior 01 said inner tubebeing provided with minute grooves to define passageways 35 between thetube and a casing within which the tube may be assembled upon at leastinitial inflation of the tube. such passageways being of such proportionand arrangement as not to substantially differentiate the function ofsaid in- 40 ner tube in road service within a casing from a like innertube having a smooth exterior within an identical casing wherebyair'trapped between the tube and casing during initial inflation of pastthe bead portions of the casing.

HAROLD A. BRI'I'IAIN.

passageways between the tube l0 from the tread region r

